BACK TO HOMEPAGE OMAN Two-year visa ban to stay in Oman for expats BYFAHAD AL GHADANI | OCTOBER 20, 2014 , 9 : 39 PM GST | 6 COMMENTS Share Share on facebookShare on twitterShare on googleShare on emailMore Sharing Services Authorities are refuting all reports about a possible suspension of the two-year ban on expatriates return to Oman after leaving a job. Photo-Times of Oman RELATED STORIES Oman visa ban on expat workers in small and medium enterprises lifted Oman expatriate labour ban: Two-year restrain on expedite local hiring, reduce number of expats Oman expatriate labour ban: Expats with NOCs able to join new jobs Oman expatriate labour ban: Two-year ban to end poaching of foreign workers Oman expatriate labour ban: 2-year work restriction returns for Omans foreign workers Visa ban reprieve for expats in Oman welcome, say firms Oman expat labour law: No plan to defer two year ban on expatriate return Muscat: There is bad news for expatriates, with the authorities refuting all reports about a possible suspension of the two-year ban on their return to Oman after leaving a job. Speaking to Times of Oman, the Royal Oman Police, the Ministry of Manpower and the Immigration Department in Muscat all denied the speculation that they were about to lift the much-debated ban. There is no official communication from the authorities on any change in the rule that came into effect recently, said a senior official at Royal Oman Police scotching all such reports. Hopes were fuelled further when a ban preventing Small and Medium-size Enterprises from hiring expats was dropped by the Ministry of Manpower. There was a buzz on social media that the two-year ban on return of expatriate workers would be lifted soon. However, denying the speculation, a reliable source said that when they approached the authorities concerned at the ROP, they found that no directives had been received in this regard. The decision stops an expatriate worker without an NOC (no-objection certificate) from joining another company before completing two years from the date of departure, said the source at the ROP. Since the ban came into effect from July 1, the ROP has received no communication regarding a change in the rule either from the cabinet or any other authorities concerned, confirmed the ROP official. He also added that such a decision would not be taken by the ROP as it only implements the law that has been made. We have nothing to do with formulating a Labour Law, clarified the official. At the Immigration Department in Muscat, an official confirmed that his department had not also received any intimation in this regard. We are still continuing with the rule which bans expatriate workers from returning to the country for two years if they dont have an NOC, said the source. Talib Al Dhabari, head of the media department at the Ministry of Manpower, confirmed that the rule is still in place. It is still effective and we have not received any other communication in this regard, he said and added for good measure that the law would be applicable to everyone. However, he clarified that an NOC would not be necessary if the expatriate wished to rejoin his previous employer. After the two-year ban came into effect, the only way expatriates were allowed to switch employers in Oman was to get an NOC from their current employers. The ministry and the ROP stated that only an expatriate who was issued an NOC would be allowed to join another company while in Oman, even before the initial contract ended. Company quota However, businesses in Oman will lose an expatriate visa from their company quota if they issued an NOC to employees, said the officials. As per the rule, employers would have to choose between issuing an NOC and being unable to hire another expatriate or retaining the employee and not issuing an NOC. In other words, the employers would have to choose if they want to reduce the number of foreigners their business could employ, or refuse to issue the NOC. An official at the Ministry of Manpower confirmed, In case an expatriate leaves Oman after getting his visa cancelled, the employer is eligible for another visa. However, if the expatriate joins another company on the basis of an NOC, the old employer will not receive a visa in his place. The law has been in existence for long but has been enforced only now. The ROP has decided that it is the right time to activate the law as we have received many recommendations from business owners, said the source in the ROP. Only if an expatriate is recalled to the same company even after leaving the Sultanate before his two-year tenure ends will he be exempt from the ban, said the source. Reporter can be reached at fahadnews@timesofoman Share Share on facebookShare on twitterShare on googleShare on emailMore Sharing Services Rate this Article Submit Submit Submit Submit Submit Rates : 5, Average : 2.6 E-mail Post a Comment Did you like this section? Leave a comment! Your Name : Your Email Address : Your Comment : Enter Image Text: Back to Article Reader Comments Renjith | October 21 at 11 : 28 am The expatriate who had completed 2 year, can return with new visa without NOC ReplyLike Dislike Irfan | October 21 at 11 : 23 am visa exp: 05/05/2014, left oman: 04/06/2014, got other work, expected to get new visa in 10-15 days, visa process delayed, its more than four months, left belongings back as was sure to come back soon. MINISTRY MUST GIVE EMERGENCY VISA so that I can go and settle the issues or pack up all my things. Suggestions and solutions welcome. ReplyLike . 1 Dislike Marc | October 21 at 10 : 39 am I will finish my contract this coming dec1, 2014; i am going home by dec2 and by that time my visa will be cancelled as i finish my contract. I am planning to return with a new employer and new company: do i need an NOC to return or i am not included in the 2yr ban since i finish my contract before i leave the sultanate? ReplyLike . 2 Dislike Kilo. | October 21 at 10 : 25 am so sad with this news. Now , too much skilled worker are now leaving in this country, Omani traind people to be competent and to be high skilled more, but now Oman become the training ground for the expatriate and they leave the country and apply to the other countries. They are loosing competent people then other country will be benefited. ReplyLike . 1 Dislike mohammed | October 21 at 10 : 01 am I hope it stays and stictly adhered to, I Recomend also to limit the time that expatriates can work in Oman. For instance renew work visas three times making it maximum of right to work and stay six years. After the work visa should not be renewed for the specific employee. After six years the company must Omanise the position with a competent National. The ban for two years implemented, if one wishes to come back and work in Oman again. ReplyLike . 1 Dislike . 1 mahadevar1965@gmail | October 21 at 8 : 58 am TO BE FRANK IF OMAN NEEDS TO CONTINUE the market level in same stage they have to withdraw NOC CONTRACT WITH EMPLOYER ReplyLike Dislike LATEST IN THIS SECTION No need to quit to apply for public sector jobs in Oman Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever: Oman starts drive against ticks Omani women’s literacy rate grows more than 10 per cent Oman to sign today pact for first wind power plant Coming to Muscat: A love tale for all time more
Posted on: Wed, 22 Oct 2014 12:49:22 +0000
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